A webinar hosted by the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme outlined  how trusts can maximise their use of day surgery, based on measures featured in a new National Day Surgery Delivery Pack produced jointly with the British Association of Day Surgery (BADS) and the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC).

More than 250 attendees from over 100 NHS organisations across the country joined the webinar to hear a range of speakers, including BADS president Dr Kim Russon and CPOC deputy director Scarlett McNally, discuss the new pack, which aims to support trusts in increasing levels of day surgery across a large number of procedures.

The National Day Surgery Delivery Pack builds on the learning from best practice day surgery pathways to enable trusts to safely expand the amount of day surgery they undertake. It calls for surgical teams to embrace the BADS Directory of Procedures, as well as developing day surgery pathways and protocols for all appropriate procedures.

The aim is for day surgery to be seen as the default setting, to improve patient care and satisfaction. This, in turn, will improve efficiency, staff retention and morale and reduce demand for inpatient beds – more important than ever for the recovery and delivery of safe elective services in the COVID-19 era.

Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT Chair and National Director of Clinical Improvement for NHS England and Improvement, gave the introduction to the webinar. He said:

“I was delighted to see so many attendees from all around the country on the webinar, including consultants, day surgery staff and trust management.

“It is only by working together that trusts will be able to successfully adopt the guidance in the pack. We hope it will be invaluable in supporting effective, safe and high-quality day case surgery, which is now more important than ever in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, to maintain elective activity and ensure the safety of our patients.”

You can see more information about the webinar, and find a recording, here.